Mr.Hacker Posted May 13, 2023 Posted May 13, 2023 We all, from time to time, have hiccups. And sometimes it seems like it will never happen. Hiccups consist of involuntary contractions of the diaphragm - the muscle that separates the thorax from the abdomen, which plays a crucial role in breathing - followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords. The medical term for hiccups is singult, a derivation of the Latin word singult, meaning "to catch one's breath while crying." For most of us, hiccups are annoying things that don't last long. But in some people it can be persistent and last for more than two days. The good news is that there are simple ways to relieve the common hiccups and treatments for when they persist. What causes hiccups? Hiccups are caused by a reflex arc: a neuromotor pathway that translates a sensation into a physical response. Sensations in this arc come from the brain, ear, nose and throat, diaphragm, and organs in the chest and abdomen. The sensation signals travel to a part of the brain that, along with the upper part of the spinal cord, is known as the "hiccup center." From the hiccup center, signals return to the diaphragm and the muscles between your ribs (intercostal muscles), causing them to contract. Contraction of these muscles draws air into the lungs, and this sudden inhalation causes the opening between the vocal cords, or glottis, to close tight. This quick closing produces the typical hiccup sound. Triggers Anything that affects the arc can cause hiccups. The most common trigger is the stretching of the stomach that occurs when we eat a large dish or consume fizzy drinks. This means that the sensation signals we have in the stomach can trigger the reflex arc. Hot chili peppers, alcohol, smoking, and overexcitement can also trigger the reflex arc and cause hiccups. Hiccups have also been observed in healthy fetuses during follow-up prenatal ultrasounds. In fact, some researchers believe that hiccups are a mechanism that helps the lungs prepare to breathe soon after birth. How long does it last? And what can we do about it? A hiccup attack that lasts less than 48 hours is usually not worrisome. These types of attacks tend to end on their own. When it doesn't resolve on its own, there are ways to suppress the reflex arc. It is believed that the Valsalva maneuver (explained in the graphic below), drinking ice-cold drinks, and light pressure on the eyeballs can increase the activity of the vagus nerve that goes to the brain. https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-65189233
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